Fig. 2.

BTM prevented LPS-mediated induction of phosphorylated sma and mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 2 (pSmad2). pSmad2 staining in alveolar tissue as seen in controls (A), 7 days after BTM treatment (B), 7 days after LPS exposure (C), and after a combination of pretreatment with BTM followed by 7 days LPS (D). E: the staining intensity of pSmad2 increased 7 days after the exposure to LPS compared with controls and was prevented by BTM pretreatment. F: protein quantifications of Smad2 phosphorylation by Western blot did not show any significant changes between groups. G: total Smad2 levels were not statistically different from controls. H: the ratio between phosphorylated and total Smad2 was not significantly different between groups. *P < 0.05 vs. controls and §P < 0.05 between experimental groups using a one-way ANOVA with Tukey's post hoc test.